Report: No sign of Alaska Guard sexual assault cover-up

May. 22, 2014 - 04:12PM
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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — The Department of Defense says it’s found no sign that sexual assault allegations within the Alaska National Guard were covered up.

A letter from the DoD’s office of Inspector General to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski Wednesday says it investigated allegations that the Guard’s command climate was not conducive to reporting and investigating sexual assaults. The letter was a response to a June 2013 letter from Murkowski relaying concerns expressed by Guard chaplains.

The DoD letter says the Guard’s sexual assault response coordinator received reports of 11 alleged sexual assaults since February 2012 and “coordinated referrals of all incidents to Alaska law enforcement authorities.” Action was taken on two cases.

Murkowski spokesman Matthew Felling says the senator’s office is working with the Pentagon to obtain a copy of the report.